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for SHAVUOT

Questions for Preparation and Self Study - Shavuot and Matan Torah
Shiur #1: Shavuot and Matan Torah: An Uncommemorated Event


Questions for Preparation and Self Study - Ma'amad Har Sinai
Shiur #2: The Four Stages of Ma'amad Har Sinai


for PARSHAT NASO

Questions for Preparation and Self Study -text
Questions for Preparation - in word format
Shiur #1: Sota and Nazir: Why are They 'Out of Place?'
Shiur #2: The N'si'im: Why are They Repeated?


Sota and Nazir: Why are They 'Out of Place?'


Parshat Naso contains what appears to be a very strange progression of parshiot. After all, what logical connection exists between the duties of the Leviim, the laws of "korban chatat" and "sotah," the laws of "nazir" and "birkat kohanim," and the dedication ceremony of the Mishkan? To your surprise, this week's shiur will not explain why they are indeed connected. Instead, we will do exactly the opposite - we will explain why these parshiot do not follow in logical progression! To understand why, we must consider the 'nuts & bolts' of Sefer Bamidbar. That means that we will analyze the sefer (as usual) in search of its unifying theme. While doing so, we will uncover a rather fascinating pattern - unique to Sefer Bamidbar. A pattern that explains why many of its 'pieces' just don't seem to fit.

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The N'si'im: Why are They Repeated?


Did you ever notice the last pasuk in Parshat Naso? Probably not, but if you did, it most certainly would have bothered you! We'll begin this week's shiur by explaining why that pasuk 'should have bothered you.' Then we will suggest a solution that will help us understand both the structure of Parshat Naso and the importance of national unity.

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Shavuot and Matan Torah: An Uncommemorated Event


When the Torah wishes to inform us of the 'historical' reason for a holiday, it certainly knows how to do so. Take for example the two other pilgrimage holidays - Chag HaMatzot and Succot. Even though these holidays are also presented from their 'agricultural' perspective, the Torah informs us of their historical perspectives as well. Therefore, it is simply baffling that the Torah presents Shavuot only from its agricultural aspect, without mentioning even a word about its connection to events of Matan Torah! In this week's shiur, we attempt to understand why.

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The Four Stages of Ma'amad Har Sinai


Despite the historical prominence and centrality of Ma'amad Har Sinai as perhaps the most important event in Jewish history, we are surprisingly unfamiliar with the chapter in Chumash that describes the specific events thereof. Simply ask yourself, have you ever gone through Shmot perek 19, pasuk by pasuk, in an attempt to follow its progression? Unquestionably, the primary purpose of Ma'amad Har Sinai was Bnei Yisrael's receiving of the Torah. Nevertheless, their experience during that revelation is no less important. In this week's shiur, we show how the Torah's presentation of this event reflects the dialectic nature of our relationship with God.

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